Costa Rica is
situated on the narrow Central American isthmus directly
north of Panama, with the Caribbean to the east and the
Pacific to the west.

Click on map for country details.

Intercultura is located in the colonial
city of Heredia, approximately 20 minutes by bus from
the capital city of San José. Known as the "City of
Flowers," (reputedly more for its beautiful women than
for its vegetation!) Heredia and its surrounding areas
provide all the conveniences of a medium-sized city in
an environment which has escaped, to a large extent, the
normal urban problems affecting the capital. It is home
to the National University, and an important cultural
center for Costa Rica. Furthermore, much of Heredia has
managed to retain a typical Latin American "pueblo" feel
despite increasing modernization. The colonial church
and it's plaza are still a favorite meeting place for
Heredia's inhabitants, old and young.

Intercultura's central location within
the city gives students easy access to transportation,
shops and entertainment. At the same time, the
tranquility and natural beauty of the mountains is only
a few minutes away by taxi or bus. In the downtown area
students are usually no more than a 5 minute walk from a
variety of services, including: sports center and
olympic-size swimming pool, Internet cafés, gyms, bars,
restaurants, discotheques, the National University's
theatre and grounds, the International telephone office,
clinics and travel agencies.

The province of Heredia is the
coffee-growing capital of Costa Rica, where one can
still see loaded ox-carts bringing in the beans from the
coffee plantations characteristic of the green
mountainsides. In the rural villages you will witness a
way of life very different to that of the cities, and
see vestiges of the old colonial architecture once
typical in the entire central valley.

Heredia's proximity to transportation
hubs such as the airport and the central bus stations in
San José make it an ideal base for your stay here.
Easily accessible from the city are the nearby Poás and
Barva volcanoes, and Costa Rica's numerous beaches and
national parks. Thus, in addition to learning the
Spanish language, you may thoroughly explore the
country's natural wonders, world renowned for their
beauty and biodiversity.

"Thank you all for such an
exciting and rewarding experience. It really did my
heart and soul good to escape the hectic culture of the
United States and to experience the charm and
friendliness of Heredia...I was thoroughly impressed by
my instructors and all the staff....I felt that my
Spanish really improved in the short time I was there. I
know your program was effective because, by the second
week, I could feel myself beginning to think a little in
Spanish...This was an exciting feeling!...As a result of
my stay in Costa Rica, I have begun to understand the
true meaning of 'Pura Vida'. " -- Roger Edwards